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of the
  
 
R  a  d  i  o     L  o  g    of    Unterseebootes "U-556"
 
 
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1st War Patrol.
  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Kommandant:  Kapitänleutnant Wohlfarth.
  
     
                                                                                         
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB
 
 
 
- 1 -
  
 
 
  1022/7/196  
          - U-556 -  
          Head for square AK 3500.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  1556/8/134 - 1618/8/135  
          New attack areas depth 20 nm:  
  U-94 = square 1715  U-556 = square 1815  U-201 = square 1935  
  U-97 = square 0135  U-93 = square 5135  U-98 = square 5315 all AK  
  Retreat from previous areas so that new areas are reached uniformly in the morning of 12 May.  Radio silence except for tactically important messages.  This group is designated West Group.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  16.00  Signal  
          Enemy convoy in sight, square AD 8842, steering westerly course, running at slow speed, was forced off.  
                                                                                  - U-201 -  
     
  2203/8/142  Signal  
          Convoy square AD 8752, enemy steering westerly course, speed 7 knots.  
                                                                                  - U-110 -  
     
  0330/9/149  Signal  
          Square 8778 enemy steers 220°.  
                                                                                  - U-110 -  
     
  0530/9/152  Signal  
          Enemy steers 240°.  
                                                                                  - U-110 -  
     
     
 
 
 
- 2 -
  
 
 
  0444/10/185  
          Enemy convoy in sight square AK 1490, enemy steers 210°.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0800/10/187  
          Convoy apparently disbanded.  3 steamers about 20000 tons.  Position square AK 1390.  At the Faroes patrol vessel (500 ton motor sailer) sunk with artillery.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  16.00/11/133  Signal  
          Enemy convoy in sight square AK 1864, enemy steers SW-course speed 7 knots.  
                                                                                  - U-201 -  
     
  2300/11/145  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Contact lost due to fog.  Visibility 50 meters.  Last observed position square AK 1767  
                                                                                  - U-201 -  
     
  2323/14/124  
  - West boats -  
          At transit speed occupy new attack areas in direction 215°, 240 nm from currently ordered attack areas rpt ko.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  1108/17/190 - 1142/17/191  
  - West boats -  
          In the order of previous attack areas occupy patrol line from square AJ 6385 to AK 8485 from 20.00 hours back and forth in the direction of the patrol line beginning with northerly course.  First course change after an hour, then after every second hour general course in the direction of the patrol line, deviations about 30° to each side of the boat's course are permissible.  For speed setting choose economic transit speed.  After required diving maneuvers reestablish so that correct position is taken in the patrol after a short time again.  No change with regard to weapon use and freedom to attack.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
     
 
 
 
- 3 -
  
 
 
  1655/19/142  
          Enemy convoy in sight square AJ 6636, northerly course, slow speed.  
                                                                                  - U-94 -  
     
  2011/19/147  
  - U-94 - U-566 -  
          From Oberbefehlshaber:  The Führer has awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to the Kommandant.  I transmit to acknowledge the achievements and success of the boat and her crew and in addition to add my warmest congratulations:  Further luck and success, strike England.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  0545/20/160  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Square AJ 3767 lower-half contact lost.  Fog and rain.  In pursuit.  A steamer 6000 tons with double shot.  
                                                                                  - U-94 -  
     
  0905/  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Convoy position square AJ 3773 lower half, northerly course.  
                                                                                  - U-94 -  
     
  20/167  
  - U-Kuppisch -  
          Request bearing signals.  
                                                                                  - Wohlfahrt -  
     
  2308/20/186  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Convoy steering for dispersal at 15.00 hours 30°.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
     
 
 
 
- 4 -
  
 
 
  1738/20/188  
  - Löwe -  
          From Kuppisch-convoy 2 tankers 22000 GRT, 1 steamer 5000 GRT.  Total 7 steamers, 1 patrol vessel, 49900 GRT.  Including  on 10 May HERCULES and GAND.  Out of torpedoes.  Return transit 21 cbm.  After the attack steamers throw many fog buoys.  Position square AJ 3485.  Require engine liner for the diesel compressor.  
                                                                                  - Parcival -  
     
  1015/25/128  
  - U-73, U-556, U-97, U-98, U-48 -  
          Form patrol line square BE 6155 to BF 7155 depth 20 nm.  U-74 head for attack area square BE 5350   
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  2000/26/171  
          Enemy in sight, one battleship one aircraft carrier.  Course 115°, high speed, square BE 5332.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  26/172  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Square BE 5332 "KING GEORGE", "ARK ROYAL" aircraft operations.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  2035/26/173  
  Contact lost in rain squall.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  2135/26/176  
          Position square 5336 upper-right, sound bearing formation 90°T.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  2200/26/177  
          In pursuit in direction of sound bearing sending bearing signals.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0300/27/192  
          Radio bearing BISMARCK 200°T own position is square BE 6153  
     
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
     
 
 
 
- 5 -
  
 
 
  0340/27/193  
          Artillery combat 230°T 15 nm.  Own position square 6164 sending bearing signals.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0425/27/194  
  - U-73, 556, 97 -  
          Immediately report weather for the Luftwaffe, include cloud height.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  0430/27/195  
          Position square 6164 lower-left no further radio bearings from BISMARCK.  Muzzle fire bearing 260°T.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0506/27/196  
          Weather report NW 6, [Rückfrontzuwetter?], 3/4 overcast, rain squalls, cloud height 500 meters, 1012 mb falling.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0630/27/198  
          Star shell firing bearing 270°T own position square 6192.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  0754/27/200  
          U-556 go to BISMARCK and retrieve Fleet Kriegstagebuch.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  1203/27/106  
          Retrieving Kriegstagebuch not possible because of return transit due to fuel.  Have optically transferred contact keeper task to U-74 at 06.30 hours.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  2117/28/163  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Request Route Bogenlampe due to fuel situation for 30 May position 18.30 hours Point Luzie 2.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  2253/28/164  
  - U-556 -  
          Return on Route Bogenlampe.  For U-97 position escort 30 May 08.00 hours Point Nanni 1.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -  
     
  0038/29/166  
  - B.d.U. -  
          Position 30 May as early as 07.30 hours at Point Luzie 2.  
                                                                                  - U-556 -  
     
  1037/29/174  
  - U-556 -  
          Escort positioned on 30 May 07.30 hours Point Luzie 2.  
                                                                                  - B.d.U. -